These Instant Pot Baby Back Pork Ribs are fall off the bone tender and only take 25 minutes to cook!
Instant Pot Baby Back Pork Ribs are rubbed down with seasonings then cooked to perfection and finished off under the broiler for the perfect texture.
You guys, I’m not even kidding when I say that these ribs are a game changer. A few years ago my husband bought a smoker so we could make some epic smoked meats, and it was my favorite way to enjoy ribs. Until now.
I still love my husband’s ribs, but they would take HOURS in the smoker. I would have to wait ALL DAY to get a taste of that tender rib meat. That’s all changed with these Instant Pot Baby Back Pork Ribs. Now I can have that tender, fall-off-the-bone goodness in just 25 minutes! Trust me, it’s true!
How To Make Instant Pot Ribs:
The first thing you’ll want to do is remove the skin from bottom side of a rack of ribs. To do this, simply run a butter knife under the skin to loosen.
Grab a paper towel (so you can have a better grip) and pull that layer all the way off. It looks like it would be difficult, but trust me, it comes right off!
What Spices To Use for a Dry Rub Rib Recipe?
The next thing to do is just rub down the rack of ribs with my husband’s signature spice rub. It’s a mixture of sweet and spicy with a few other spices that will really make the flavor on these ribs pop!
- Brown Sugar
- Chili Powder
- Dried Parsley
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
After you’ve rubbed both sides of the rack down, simply throw the whole rack into the pressure cooker.
Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Ribs:
Use your rack to keep the pork out of the liquid on the bottom. If you don’t have a rack, ball up some aluminum foil and try to make a rack of some sort to elevate the pork.
My next big tip to making these Instant Pot Baby Back Pork Ribs – THE LIQUID!
- Use one cup of water
- 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
The liquid smoke is optional, but highly recommended. Remember how I said I loved my husband’s smoked ribs? Adding that tiny bit of liquid smoke gets that flavor in the ribs without pulling out the smoker or grill!
Once the ribs are done, you’ll let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then finish with a quick release. Carefully remove the ribs (you’ll want to try and grab the rack with some tongs going perpendicular to the bones) and set it on a foil-lined baking sheet.
Brush the rack down with some BBQ sauce and pop it under the broiler for just 5 minutes to get nice and bubbly.
How To Double Instant Pot Ribs Recipe:
This recipe is for about a 3 1/2 pound rack of pork ribs and easily fits into a 6 or 8 quart instant pot. If you’re looking to double the recipe, make sure both racks of ribs can fit into your pressure cooker. Double the spice ingredients, but you do not need to double the liquid. The time will only increase by about 10 minutes.
The meat is so tender that the bones will just slip right out when gently pulled.
I’m not kidding, these are the best ribs EVER!!
I made these the other day for Memorial Day weekend (with my Mexican Grilled Corn) as a test, and they came out so good that before the week was over, I was making them again!
Just think, you can have super tender baby back ribs ready to eat in less than 45 minutes from start to finish!
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Instant Pot Baby Back Pork Ribs
Ingredients
- 3 lb baby back pork ribs
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp liquid smoke, optional
- 1/2 cup bbq sauce
Instructions
- Remove the lining from the bottom side of the ribs by running a butter knife under the skin and then using a paper towel to grip and remove completely.
- Combine the brown sugar, chili powder, parsley, salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper in a small dish and rub all over the ribs.
- Place the rack in your pressure cooker and place the ribs inside the pot, standing on their side, wrapping around the inside of the pot. Pour in the water, apple cider and liquid smoke (if using), being careful to not wash off any of the seasonings.
- Secure the lid, making sure the vent is closed. Press the Meat button and set to 25 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release the rest of the way.
- Carefully remove the ribs from the pressure cooker and set on a foil lined baking sheet. Brush down with your favorite BBQ sauce, and pop under the broiler for 5 minutes, but keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn (some ovens are more hot than others). Enjoy!
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Notes
Nutrition
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Carol
Has anyone tried making this recipe without BBQ sauce ? I do not like BBQ sauce and am wondering if the ribs will still taste flavorful with the dry rub in the instant pot and no BBQ sauce. Also wondering if broiling is still helpful if I’m not planning on adding BBQ sauce?
Tony Parisi
Yes. I recommend dusting the ribs with a little more rub or a finishing salt. It will still give the ribs a nice “bark” under the high heat of the broiler.
Connie W.
I made these and they were a big hit. When I made them again I realized I missed the cumin the first time. I put it in the second time and seriously regretted it, because it really ruined the flavor. I’ll make them again, but I’ll definitely leave out the cumin.
Jenn
This is a family favorite and turns out perfectly every time. Packing up the ingredients now for a family gathering this weekend!
TE
You can adjust the spices in the rub to your taste but the apple cider vinegar and water and the cooking time make this a cant go wrong recipe. Just remember to remove the membrane. Absolutely delish. Yum
Bob
Tried this as-is and found the seasoning to be soaked from the pressure cooking. Even after putting on BBQ sauce and broiling, the seasoning just clumped together. That said, the meat was very tender and did fall off the bone, so the cook time once pressurized was right.
Found the 1tsp of cumin to be overkill, so I’m trying it again tonight with only 1/4tsp. (Picked up two racks of ribs on sale and froze them until I had time to make it.)
Steve Maddox
Best way I do the seasoning is put it on the night before and give it time to absorb into the meat. It works great
deb brownlow
the best and easiest rib by far
Don Nelligan
Best ribs at any restaurant, any method of grilling, smoking, or any method at home I have ever tried. This is my go to from now on.
Thank you so much!
Diane R
What a great recipe! We use our own Kansas City dry rub we developed over the years and often smoke/BBQ during the summer but using the IP with the liquid mix makes them so tender, fall-off-the-bone goodness. So nice to have ribs in the winter without 5 hours in the oven or on really hot and humid days when you don’t want to BBQ. 100% recommend this recipe!
Traci
This is out go to recipe for making ribs for the family get togethers! Everyone loves them and I double it every time. Not once have I had issues with toughness, fall off the bone tender the multitude of times I have made these. I do add a little extra smoke but that is just out preference. Making them today for our 4th of July BBQ and I can hardly wait to get them in my grubby little hands!! Yum yum!!
Lynn Hagan
These baby backs were cooked exactly by the recipe and turned out delicious. If anyone says their ribs weren’t tender, they must not have removed the silver skin or they need a new butcher. This will be my go to recipe unless doing them in the smoker!
Michelle E
What about air fryer
Amber
How much time to you add when doubling?
Amanda
These were NOT fall off the bone and the seasoning was just too much. Ribs are definitely a low and slow food item.
Lindsay
Then you didn’t do something correctly. I’ve made this recipe for over a year, and no others, when making ribs. I usually do add one or two minutes of cook time and broil them with bbq sauce, and they do fall off for the bone. The apple cider vinegar in the pot almost guarantees the tenderness.
Shannon
Sounds like you failed the recipe. I have never not had this preparation method not work to end up with falll-off-the-bone ribs with amazing flavor.
Steve Maddox
Increase your cook time if you’re above sea level. Put on seasoning the night before and let it absorb. I also add a tablespoon of cinnamon.
Linda c
Followed recipe as written, these were delicious and fall off the bone tender
Kristina
These are a family fave! The rub adds such good flavor and they’re so tender when done. Made some tonight that were too tall for my 6 qt instapot, so,I just folded them over. Came out just as good!
Linda
Don’t add too much more time. I was worrying about the tenderness, we like it fall off the bone, so I added an extra 7. Almost over cooked. Very flavorful. Will do it again
Jamie
Hello. Love this recipe and plan on doubling it. Do you recommend adding to the cook time when doubling?
Mark B
Many Instant Pots have high, low, and some even PSI setting. What works best for this recipe?
Shawn
High pressure will work best for this recipe.
Joe Garrett
Absolutely wonderful
Michelle
I’ve made these ribs several times and they always come out great.
TERRI HOFFMAN
This ia great recipe! My second time making it… and it’s so AMAZING! I opted to NOT use liquid smoke or the Bbq sauce. Still spot on fall off the bone DELICIOUS! Definite family FAVORITE!! Thank you!! XO!XO!
Mark French
This was a great recipe! My husband raved about the dry rub and how the meat falls off the bone! I’ll definitely make these again.
Jean Johnson
I’ve made these several times and they’re always a hit! Great for chilly fall and winter days when I don’t want to grill. Fall off the bone everytime! Thanks!
Doris
These are the best ribs I’ve ever had. Made them several times and everyone that has ate them loves them. Only way I will ever makes ribs again. Thank you for this recipe!
Renee
We love this recipe! Mr doesn’t love the ACV taste, but still super tender without. Littles beg to help blend the spices, remove the “skin”, and add the rub. Don’t forget the natural release!
Sara Olson
Absolutely excellent. Super tady and fairly easy
Sheri
Great recipe. Super easy to make. So delicious. I did not have the liquid smoke so I sprinkled smoked paprika into the liquid and added a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Perfection. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Eric G
This had great flavor for a 35 minute cook time. If you need to do ribs quickly, I like this recipe. However, it just doesn’t have the fall off the bone of slow cooking. So, back to the crock pot for ribs for me. But, I will take the water, apple cider vinegar and liquid smoke ratio for the Crock pot.
Cat
THESE WERE THE BEST EVER! The ribs were only the 3rd thing I’ve ever cooked in my instant pot but I will never cook baby back ribs any other way! From start to finish, moist and tender and on my plate in 60 minutes total time! The rub is very good too!
Rebecca R McQueeney
I did this recipe today and they were so tough, unfortunately.
Charlene
Rebecca R McQueeney:
So sorry to hear that yours turned out tough. I recommend maybe you try again. Followed step by step from taking silver skin off to under the broiler & turned out soooo good & tender. I did not have apple cider vinegar so sed red wine vinegar instead.
Reno
Caution for first time insta pot users. The timing doesn’t account for the time it takes the insta pot to pressurize. Ours takes about 20 minutes so overall time is 45 min before the 10 min release. Thus about an hour
Ron
These are truly the best ribs I’ve ever had. Same comment has been said by everyone who has tasted them.
Jeff
Absolutely delicious! The meat falls right off the bone. Perfect taste! Super easy recipe. Thank you!
Anne
Too hot out to grill and didn’t want to turn on the oven. Who would have thought it! Ribs in the instant pot! Really tasty and almost fall off the bone!